Elevating public sector performance

Prior to founding Southeast Insights, Dante Bidwell was a public servant for nearly 10 years, working for the residents of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Most recently, Dante served as the Chief Administrative Officer for the Mayor-President of the City of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish, making him the second-highest official in the City and Parish government. In his capacity as CAO, Dante managed the daily operations of the City-Parish, which encompasses the oversight of 19 department heads, more than 4,000 employees, an annual budget of over $1 billion, as well as a long-term infrastructure improvement budget valued at several billion dollars.

During his time in Baton Rouge, Dante led the selection committee for the appointment of a new police chief, oversaw the distribution of nearly $156 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding, and directed the allocation of nearly $20 million for affordable housing initiatives, including significant funding for the Baton Rouge Choice Neighborhood program. Additionally, Dante used his platform to advocate for additional federal funding for municipalities along the Mississippi River corridor.

Before his public service in Baton Rouge, Dante held various roles within the City of New Orleans, including serving as Chief of Staff to the Superintendent of Police for three years. During this time, he was involved in all aspects of the organization, including internal operations, technology procurement, training, and public accountability, while fostering collaboration across local, state, and federal agencies.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Dante actively participated as a member of the founding Advisory Group for the Justice Studies PhD program at the University of New Orleans, and as a member of the Advisory Board for the Essential Personnel software platform. His professional and volunteer efforts led to receiving the esteemed “Forty Under 40” award from the Baton Rouge Business Report in 2024.

He holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Sociology from Southeastern Louisiana University, as well as professional credentials from the Harvard Business School Public Education Leadership Program and Institute of Politics at Loyola University in New Orleans.